NORTH BRUNSWICK – The longtime assistant business administrator in North Brunswick will assume the role of interim business administrator as of May 11.
Current Business Administrator Kathyrn Monzo announced her impending retirement during the April 20 Township Council workshop meeting. Monzo came to North Brunswick in 2016 from Princeton.
“It is bittersweet for me as I really love it here. This is a wonderful community and a great mayor – the best I have ever worked for – and governing body. I cannot say enough about the staff. This is a wonderful team of people that work hard and, most of all, truly care about the residents. I will really miss this place,” said Monzo, whose last day in office will be May 8 before transferring to Hamilton Township as their new business administrator.
“I know I speak for everyone when I say how very, very much we appreciate your efforts and dedication over the last several years, and what a pleasure it has been to work with you,” Mayor Francis “Mac” Womack said during the May 4 Township Council meeting.
Justine Progebin has been named North Brunswick’s interim business administrator for the remainder of Monzo’s term, which extends through 2023.
Progebin began her career with North Brunswick in January 2000 in the Finance Department when she was completing her undergraduate work in accounting.
While in Finance, she completed chief financial officer courses and worked each year with the mayor in developing the annual budget, something she continues to this day.
After the retirement of longtime purchasing agent Ann Murphy in 2005, Progebin assumed the role of purchasing agent for the township and sat for the state’s first Qualified Purchasing Agent exam after having completed the required courses.
Soon after, she was asked to become the assistant business administrator, folding purchasing into administration.
Since then, Progebin has earned her master’s degree from Seton Hall University, is a certified public manager, completed tax assessor’s courses and is North Brunswick’s public compliance officer.
“I have had the benefit of several mentors in my time here who have taught me more than I could have ever imagined and for that I will always be truly grateful,” Progebin said.
In 2019, Progebin became an instructor for the Rutgers Center for Government Services and previously served on the Board for the GPANJ.
“Justine will be a terrific business administrator,” Monzo said. “She has the knowledge and history of how things got to where they are … and has a ‘can do’ attitude that really gets things done. I am so thankful to have worked with her these past four years.”
It is not known if township officials will search for a permanent business administrator at this time.
Contact Jennifer Amato at [email protected].